When we were growing up the only option to eat out for vegetarians was either Punjabi or South Indian. Even that had a typically common menu. Over the past few years a lot of other cuisines earlier unheard of have become popular. Now you have a Pizza Hut round almost every corner and swish new restaurants serving Sushi & Thai food.
Thai food has gained a lot of popularity in India. The reason i guess is because it tastes very familiar. few ingredients like the chillies and coconut are widely used in various Indian foods specially south Indian. despite that similarity it tastes very different from say a Goan coconut curry due to use of herbs like kafir lime leaves. The fish sauces and shrimp paste also adds a flavour. I really enjoyed Thai food in restaurants till a chef friend told me that shrimp paste is a very essential ingredient in it. Being a vegetarian that was a turn off and i decided to make Thai food on my own.
This recipe is from a cooking book bought off street in Bangkok. It tastes really good and is very easy to make.
you will need
6-7 fresh green chillies
1 cup chopped french shallots ( u can use white of spring onions)
about 2" long fresh galangal chopped
8-10 garlic cloves, chopped
about a cup fresh coriander , leaves and stem
few kafir lime leaves ( can use dried ones available in super markets)
3 stems lemon grass , white only
Grated lemon rind ( grate a lemon using simple grater. taking care only the rind is grated)
spices
1 tbsp coriander seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp oil
Paste
lightly roast coriander and cumin seeds in a pan and grind them along with all other ingredients adding a little water in a processor. Process till it becomes a fine chutney/ paste.
This paste can also be stored in freezer and used whenever needed.
To make the curry.
You can add any vegetable/ mushrooms or meat ( steamed or boiled a bit ) to this curry. and cook.
Thai food has gained a lot of popularity in India. The reason i guess is because it tastes very familiar. few ingredients like the chillies and coconut are widely used in various Indian foods specially south Indian. despite that similarity it tastes very different from say a Goan coconut curry due to use of herbs like kafir lime leaves. The fish sauces and shrimp paste also adds a flavour. I really enjoyed Thai food in restaurants till a chef friend told me that shrimp paste is a very essential ingredient in it. Being a vegetarian that was a turn off and i decided to make Thai food on my own.
This recipe is from a cooking book bought off street in Bangkok. It tastes really good and is very easy to make.
you will need
6-7 fresh green chillies
1 cup chopped french shallots ( u can use white of spring onions)
about 2" long fresh galangal chopped
8-10 garlic cloves, chopped
about a cup fresh coriander , leaves and stem
few kafir lime leaves ( can use dried ones available in super markets)
3 stems lemon grass , white only
Grated lemon rind ( grate a lemon using simple grater. taking care only the rind is grated)
spices
1 tbsp coriander seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp oil
Paste
lightly roast coriander and cumin seeds in a pan and grind them along with all other ingredients adding a little water in a processor. Process till it becomes a fine chutney/ paste.
This paste can also be stored in freezer and used whenever needed.
To make the curry.
- Heat oil in a wok and add chopped onions. Saute.
- Add curry paste( 2-3 tbsp) and cook over medium heat.
- Add 2 cups coconut milk ( ready available or fresh milk out of grated coconut)
- Reduce heat and simmer
- Add some sliced galangal and kafir lime leaves.
- Add 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tsp lime juice.
You can add any vegetable/ mushrooms or meat ( steamed or boiled a bit ) to this curry. and cook.
